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Politics & Government

Facility Fees for Veterans Plaza Usage in Limbo

Fenton Street Market and other organizations to have clarity from the county executive's office on fees by week's end.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett is taking a special look at the increased fees the Fenton Street Market would have to pay in 2012 to continue its operation on Veterans Plaza each week.

Recently, reports have surfaced that the county would raise the fees charged to Fenton Street Market from $48 per Saturday to more than $1,200 each week. The larger fee is based on an hourly rate of $125 for use of half of the plaza. The founder and president of the market, Hannah McCann, had worked out the $48 fee with the county when Veterans Plaza first opened up for use a little more than a year ago.

After an outcry of support for the market, the entire situation is being reconsidered by the county, according to Patrick Lacefield, a spokesman for Montgomery County.

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“The executive is reviewing the bidding process and … the county is not opposed to keeping it [the Fenton Street Market] going, but the equity is a concern,” he said.

One possibility Lacefield mentioned was that the county may put out a request for proposals for the space, and based on what the groups applying are prepared to pay, the county can then make judgments about how much to charge.

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McCann agreed that this could be the solution for the Fenton Street Market as long as a decision is made in a timely manner. 

"For the business people who exhibit in the market to be able to continue building their business in Silver Spring, they would need to know by the end of the summer. I feel we could put together a good proposal, given our proven benefits to the community on the plaza," McCann said.

The initial agreement with the market was reached because officials at the civic building were interested in experimenting with different events in the plaza, according to Ginny Gong, the executive director of the Community Use of Public Facilities.

“We agreed to the initial trial basis, but are willing to honor the agreement through October of 2011,” said Gong, who said she does not view the situation as a fee increase but rather a method of treating everyone equally.

The $125 per hour fee is the price that was charged for using the green space that existed prior to the constriction of Veterans Plaza.

McCann said that she is not against a fee increase in principle, but believes that the jump from $48 to $1,200 is far too dramatic.

“I live here and pay taxes,” McCann said. “In my opinion, the county is using a model from the 1970s, imposing a $125 hourly fee no matter the circumstances. Those fees are reasonable for big companies and organizations that only use the space once or twice per year, but for us, I don’t think it is.”

Lacefield said he is hopeful that Leggett will make a decision as soon as the end of this week.

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